DEH-P3500 faceplate broken, help me evaluate my options

[Automatic Juan]

Hi y'all. As the title says, I've got an old-ish Pioneer DEH-P3500 head unit installed in my even older VW Bug. Well, the darn faceplate one day recently just decided to stop working, and now only the volume dial works. Display also works, but I get no response anymore when pressing any of the buttons.

It happened on a particularly hot day when the radio was even hotter (no A/C in this Bug), so I'm thinking the issue is related to that. Or it can also be related to the fact that I've dropped the faceplate quite a few times.. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

How do I know for sure the issue is only the faceplate? Well, because a friend of mine has a DEH-P5500 unit, and if you've ever seen one of those, you'll know that the faceplates are practically identical. I tried his plate on my unit, and everything worked like a charm! (on second thought, maybe I should have just swiped his faceplate... hmm...)

OK I'm rambling. Let's get to the point:

1. Where can I get a used replacement faceplate? I've noticed that this forum has a classified ads section, but I didn't find anything recent there. I've tried eBay, but no luck so far. (I ask for a used one, because I can't really afford $70-$100 for a new plate)

2. Any other model faceplates that you think will be compatible with my unit? As I mentioned, I tried a DEH-P5500 faceplate and it worked. Googling around, I found that the 4500 and 6500 models' faceplates are also identical (at least superficially) to mine.

3. Any suggestions on how to fix my faceplate? I'm thinking the issue is probably a weak solder point in there somewhere... but which one? Yeah, I don't think I'll be able to fix that without a repair manual and a decent multimeter. And a fine-pointed soldering gun. Yeah, I don't think that's happening anytime soon... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/ponder.gif.ec2527b23f1d287b60dcbba54f95edba.gif

That's all, folks. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

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[ebrunn 10+ year member]

I've tried eBay, but no luck so far. (I ask for a used one, because I can't really afford $70-$100 for a new plate)

Ebay

Dont know if your gonna get any better than $57.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

buy a new unit?

 

[Automatic Juan]

Thanks, ebrunn, I see that there are now a couple of faceplate-only auctions, I'll bid and see what happens.

And 2002XLT, that's not an option for me atm, what with my scarce disposable income and all. I'm still driving a Bug for pete's sake! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

might not have a choice. try using your faceplate with your buddies remote. maybe it will fully work with a remote?

if all else fails you can send me the trim ring //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[Automatic Juan]

might not have a choice. try using your faceplate with your buddies remote. maybe it will fully work with a remote?
if all else fails you can send me the trim ring //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

I forgot to mention that I do have a remote, but it doesn't work anymore with my faceplate. The remote works perfectly with my unit with my buddy's faceplate, as well as with my sister's Pioneer in her Echo (standard Pioneer remote). My faceplate is somehow so broken that it doesn't even pass on the received remote signals.

And I never had the trim ring! Haha, hopefully I'll be able to get one now if I can snipe a faceplate from eBay...